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Tears on the Sand

Chapter 1

Joe Cartwright and his father were finishing up work around the barn as a slow easy grin came to Joe's lips. He very seldom was the only one working with his pa. Usually Adam or Hoss were working along side of them also, but not today. Both of his brothers were out finishing up the last minute details before the roundup. It was kinda nice having his pa all to himself he thought, as he threw another bunch of hay to the bull in the corral. They had been reminiscing about how Little Joe had gotten himself into so much trouble when he was younger. As they remembered some of the crazy things Joe had done, they both had a good laugh and it had turned into a very enjoyable afternoon for both father and son.

Ben was just finishing stacking the woodpile when he saw a small group of soldiers ride into the yard. If the way they looked meant anything, they obviously must have been riding for days as they all looked bone tired and very dusty. After the detail pulled up in front of Ben, the Sergeant got down from his horse, slapping the dust from his pants with his hat as he walked over and stood in front of Ben and put out his hand.

"How do you do, sir? My name is Sergeant Peterson and I need to talk to the man in charge of this ranch."

After wiping his hands on his pants, Ben extended his hand to the Sergeant and smiled.

"That would be me…my name is Ben Cartwright and I own this house and all the land surrounding it for miles. What can I do for you, Sergeant?"

"Well, sir, I am in need of someone who is familiar with the area. My detail and I are not familiar with this part of the country and I need a guide to take us to Reno. I have a prisoner we are escorting there to be hanged."

"Oh, what did they do that they need an escort? Couldn't just a few men take one prisoner to be hanged?"

"Normally yes, but we are afraid that there will be retaliation for the death of this prisoner, so it is just a precaution. Do you have anyone who can guide us there, Mr. Cartwright? This is a military matter and it must be done with upmost haste."

Curious to find out what the military would be doing here on the Ponderosa, Joe quickly finished up his work and walked over to stand by his pa. As he approached the two men he heard the last of the conversation and couldn't help but ask a question.

"You are taking a prisoner to be hanged, Sergeant?" Joe inquired, as he stood there looking at the detail of tired, dusty soldiers.

As the Sergeant looked over at Joe, he nodded his head and smiled briefly. "And whom might you be?"

"This is one of my sons... Joseph Cartwright," Ben explained, as he affectionately put his arm around Joe's shoulder.

"Pleased to meet you, sir," Joe replied, as he extended his hand and took the Sergeant's hand in a firm handshake. Pa always told him to grip a man firmly when you shake his hand, as this is the sign of a man not a boy.

"Pleased to me you also young man. As I was saying, this is a very important mission and we have to find a guide right away."

"I understand, Sergeant, but I just don't have anyone I can spare right now who could guide you. All my available men are working on getting the herd ready for the cattle drive. I am sorry…I wish I could be of more help. If you'll excuse me now, I need to finish stacking this wood as we are trying to get things done around here before we leave for the drive. Maybe you could check in town. I wish you luck in finding someone to help guide you."

Watching his father shake the Sergeant's hand and then turn and continue to stack the wood, Joe couldn't contain his curiosity any further. "Where did you want to go, Sergeant?"

"I need someone who is familiar with the area that can lead us to Reno for the hanging of a prisoner."

The Sergeant ran his hand through his hair and gave a heavy sigh. He was very tired and really didn't want to have anything to do with this mission. But it was his first mission in command and he would do it without complaint or failure. That is what you do in the army—follow orders whether you agree with them or not. It was the kind of mission that probably would haunt him the rest of his life, as it was already gnawing on his insides. He wished he could just let the prisoner go, but of course that was out of the question for an army man.

"Pa, I could guide them. I could be back in time for the drive even if it took a little longer than usual. I wouldn't have to go all the way, but I could get them within 10 miles of Reno and head back home."

At 18 Joe hadn't really had a lot of responsibility away from the ranch yet, and he was more than ready to prove to his father and brothers that he was reliable and ready to show them that he was a man now and could take on a man's responsibility. This was just the kind of job he knew he could do and also help out the army. Joe stood there trying to contain his nerves as he anxiously waited for his father's answer.

"I don't know, Joseph. It is a lot of responsibility and I really need you back in time to help with the drive. What if you ran into trouble and couldn't get back in time?"

Ben took the bandana out of his back pocket and wiped the sweat off of his wrinkled forehead. As he did, he noticed the anxious expression on his youngest son's face. He remembered what it felt like to prove to everyone that you were a man and ready to take on a man's job. But Joe was his youngest son and it is hard to let the youngest go, even though he knew in his heart it was time to let him prove himself.

"Very well, Joseph, I guess I can spare you long enough to help the Sergeant. Besides, you will be a great guide for the army and I know you will do us proud!"

"Thank you, pa. I will do my very best and be back before you know I am even gone," assured Little Joe, as he grinned from ear to ear.

Ben smiled proudly and clapped Joe on the back as he answered, "I know you will, son."

"Wonderful… we will leave first thing in the morning. We will bed down about a mile from here and see you in the morning, Mr. Cartwright."

The Sergeant smiled wearily as he donned his hat and mounted his horse. He turned and motioned for the detail to follow him out of the yard. Soon the entire detail was gone, and Ben and Joe stood there watching the dust that their horses had stirred up slowly settle to the ground. Joe couldn't contain his excitement anymore as he grinned at Ben.

"Thank you for believing in me, pa. It means a lot to me to know that you do."

"You are a man now son and it is time that you take everything that your brothers and I have taught you and put it too good use. You will need all your skills for this job, as the army will be depending on you. I know you can do it and I am very proud of you for offering to do this, Joseph."

Ben's heart swelled as he put his arm around his youngest son. He felt a tear well up in his eye as he turned away to wipe it with his bandana and then quickly turned back around smiling.

"Well now, let's stop jawing and get you ready for this trip."

As father and son walked into the house, Ben knew that this trip would give Joe just the kind of responsibility he needed to give him confidence that he was an adult now. But neither he nor Joe had any idea how this trip would change Joe forever.

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Joe and the army detail had been traveling all day and were bone tired by the time Joe found a spot for them to camp for the night. He hadn't even seen the prisoner yet, and all he knew was that this prisoner had tried to help an Indian brave escape. The brave had killed an important man and was going to hang for his offense. But the brave was killed while trying to escape and this prisoner was going to hang now for trying to help him. After all, as long as an Indian hanged that was all that mattered to the family of the slain man.

When a soldier had told Joe this, it was all he could do to not punch the ignorant man in the jaw as he saw the evil prejudice the man had. The soldier had laughed while he was telling him the history behind this prisoner and Joe was starting to get his first taste of what this trip was going to be like. It had taken all his patience to keep his temper in check. He knew there was prejudice against the Indians, but he was never raised that way and this just left him with a sick feeling in his gut.

The detail of ten men eventually settled in around the campfire and were joking while they ate their supper. Not wanting to be around them, Joe had placed his saddle a little ways away from the rest of the group and was leaning up against it. He was curiously watching the men when one of the soldiers stood up and went over to the wagon. The soldier they called Murphy went into the wagon and a few minutes later the flap was thrown back and the prisoner emerged. This was the first time Joe had seen the prisoner and shock and disbelief suddenly filled his mind.

It felt as if the blood was draining from his face as Joe watched a beautiful Indian girl with her hands tied in front of her slowly step down from the wagon. This girl couldn't be the prisoner they wanted to hang? How could they hang a woman? All these questions were rushing through Joe's mind as the Indian girl and Murphy came walking towards him.

TBC